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“L” is for Lexington

South Carolina A to Z larger logo

“L” is for Lexington (Lexington County; 2020 population 23,554). Lexington, named for the Revolutionary War battle in Massachusetts was founded in 1820 to replace Granby (now Cayce) as the seat of Lexington District. The town was called Lexington Court House until 1900. A two acre site in the center of the district on a high sandy ridge was deemed healthier than low-lying, flood-prone Granby. Too small to be a significant trade center, Lexington instead served as a local retail market. In 1970, Lexington was little more than a village of 969 souls. The tiny courthouse town sprang to life at the turn of the twenty-first century—thanks to the sprawling population of the Columbia metropolitan area. Lexington’s growth has been encouraged by the town’ excellent school system, easy access to major highways, and its proximity to Lake Murray.

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Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.